Russia supports Saudi Arabia’s efforts to arrange expanded meeting of Syrian opposition - foreign ministry

MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/. Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has held a telephone talk with Saudi top diplomat Adel al-Jubeir, supporting Riyadh’s efforts to arrange an expanded meeting of the Syrian opposition, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. According to the ministry, the conversation was initiated by Saudi Arabia. "Russia has supported Saudi Arabia’s efforts to arrange an expanded meeting of the Syrian opposition in Riyadh, in order to form a united delegation to participate in the Geneva talks based on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254," the statement reads. Besides, the two diplomats discussed the situation in Yemen and Lebanon, the Russian Foreign Ministry added. "The Saudi foreign minister shared his assessments of the situation in Yemen and Lebanon, and mentioned the measures that the Saudi authorities were taking to counter corruption," the statement said. In August, the first round of consultations between the three main groups of the Syrian opposition was held in the Saudi capital, involving representatives of the Moscow, Cairo and Riyadh-based opposition groups. Participants in the consultations also took part in a meeting held at the Saudi Foreign Ministry. The next round of talks, planned to be held in early October, was delayed. Read more